Friday, April 4, 2014

"The wheel was invented a long time ago too but
it still comes in handy.”Scott
Wilson

All
A'Twitter: US AID is taking the blame
for the latest stupid attempt by the US government to overthrow the
Cuban government, this time by fomenting a counter-revolution via
Twitter. . After 50 years of failure, wasted money and public
humiliation, isn't it time we stopped coddling the Cubans who own
Florida's sugar plantations and leave Cuba alone? Or better yet, why
not extend a helping hand?

Meh:
The US Director of National Intelligence has admitted, in writing,
that the NSA intercepts and monitors the communications of US
citizens without obtaining warrants to do so. This confession was
met with massive indifference by a defeated population. Being
Prepared: EU officials (along with US,
UK, Canada, NZ and the rest of the Usual Suspects) are changing the
rules so that the next time banks need rescuing, the silly people who
put money in the bank to save it will discover it un-saved.
Confiscated. But only the amount over the 'insured' level. At first.
If that's not enough, then everybody gets a haircut. And if that's
not enough, then the same would-be savers will get to pony up the
rest through taxes. Heck of a deal.

They're
Winning:
The government in Australia proposes to
make it illegal to boycott a company for its environmental crimes.

Obfuscation: IMF chief Christine Lagarde says that global growth “remains
too slow and weak”, that inflation is too low, and that the ECB
should be “using unconventional policies to support growth.” God
only knows what evils hide behind those words. Is it more austerity,
which the IMF says is hurtful, or less austerity, which the IMF says
is not allowable? She also said that "The situation in Ukraine
is one which, if not well managed, could have broader spillover
implications." Really. That's why she gets the big bucks.Up
Close & Personal: The NFL is
planning to have team cheerleaders give
fans lap dances visit fans in their
seats during games next season. Pricing was not immediately clear,
nor was there any information about outcalls. Mirror,
Mirror: When they talk about the job
creators and how such critters should be coddled and protected and
encouraged by the tax system, remember they are talking about you,
the consumer. No customers, no demand. No demand, no need for
supply. No need for supply, no jobs. To create jobs, we need to put
money in customers' pockets. Your pockets.

Bottom
Lines: Yes, it was scandalous that over
a thousand workers were killed in the Rana Plaza disaster in
Bangladesh and it will undoubtedly happen again – especially if the
slave drivers are forced to pay the peons a few pennies more a day
and thus are forced to skimp on safety measures. But if GM won't
spend fifty-seven
cents to save an American life, why should we expect Walmart's
subcontractors to value human life any higher? They're just part of
the Asian horde, not actual individuals, so we can say “Pity” and
go on shopping. Nature
Of The Beast: It is becoming more and
more obvious that the postwar middle-class world I grew up in was an
immense exception and the plutocracy that has taken over is simply
the reversion to the norm. It is not a question of getting back to
the Garden, the Garden was the exception. The question is how far
will down turn out to be.

Ignition:
The pitiful recovery in consumer spending is nearly all due to our
going further into debt to buy cars. New car sales in 2013 were up
40% from 2009, while other retail spending was up only 20%. Yes, the
sales count, even if there's a good chance they'll be recalled.

Torpid
Secret: The CIA has done all it can to
keep its torture program secret because they tortured more people, in
more places, in more hideous ways than previously known, all to no
end. They learned only that the tortured will say anything to stop
the pain. Sort of like the CIA doing anything it can to avoid the
pain of being caught lying to congress. Again.

All
Together Now: In the US, 80% of adults
are faced with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for
at least parts of their lives. Obviously they don't work on Wall
Street. But then, neither do you.

Our Motto

Keep fightin' for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't you forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin' ass and celebratin' the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was.